Good luck to our Atlantic rowers

25 November 2011

Chris Howard and Tom Dignum (both 26) from Cambridge, left the port in Gran Canaria this morning to row the Atlantic Ocean, and we want to wish them the best of luck.

The 2 friends, who are known as the Oar Raisers, are rowing 3,000 miles independently to raise vital funds for us over the next 3 months.

Chris and Tom will be battling huge waves, the weather and physical fatigue to achieve their goal. Their final destination will be Barbados.

Chris is rowing in memory of his grandfather who had Parkinson's

Chris Howard said:

"My grandfather who had Parkinson's died some years ago now. He had Parkinson's for the whole of my childhood until I was about 16 years old.

"I wanted to raise awareness and change people's attitudes towards Parkinson's, so I came up with the idea of rowing the Atlantic. I thought that by undertaking the world's number one endurance challenge, it would raise a fair amount of money for Parkinson's UK."

Tom Dignum added:

"We are taking the challenge to change people's attitudes towards Parkinson's, and will hopefully be able to raise a sizeable amount of money for Parkinson's UK for research.

"We also hope to become members of fairly exclusive club, as more people have climbed Everest and been into space than have rowed the Atlantic."

A daring challenge

Paul Jackson-Clark, Director of Fundraising at Parkinson's UK, said:

"This is a fantastic and daring challenge and we wish Chris and Tom the best of luck. We are honoured that they are rowing the Atlantic for us.

"All the money raised will go to fund our vital work to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson's."

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